Motor-vehicle semaphore



Oct. 15, 1929. R. c. HARBoRD 1,731,569

MOTOR VEHICLE SEMAPHORE Filed Dec. 4. 1928 A TTOR EYS.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 i, UNITEDI sTATl-:s

PATENr orFicE s BOLLA CI'IABBORD, OF SPOKNE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OFONE-TI-IIRD T HER- MAN GEST, AND ONE-THIRD T0 JAMES H. TRIIVIBLE, BO'I'HOF SPOKAI'IE, WASHING- TON MOTOR-VEHICLE SEMAPHORE Application filedDecember 4, 1928. Serial No. 323,655.

My invention relates to motor-vehicle semaphores and the primary objectsof the invention are to provide a comparatively simple semaphore havinga signal hand normally housed within a cabinet and with means wherebythe hand is moved to indicate the several directions in which thevehicle is going. Other objects are to provide means for simultaneouslyopening and closing the cabinet door in combination with the means for'Operating the hand. Further objects are to provide electrical contactmeans for slmultaneously illuminating the hand in combination with themovements of the door and hand.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction,adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter describedand claimed. ,These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated inthe accompanying drawings; wherein Figure 1 is a general outline view inelevation showing the several positions of the signal hand;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation. of the device as a whole with the cabinetdoor open and its front cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on a brokenline 8, 8 of Fig. 2

and showing the electrical contact means for illuminating the hand;

Fig.l 4 is a detail View in perspective of the slotted connecting plate;and

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section taken on a broken line 5, 5 ofFig.1, and showingx the hand in the extended position.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numeralsdesignate like parts, the numeral 5 indicates a hand lever arranged formanual operation and pivoted at 6 to an indicator plate 7 which may besecured to an instrument board 8 or other convenient place in theforward part of a motor-vehicle. A finger 9 extending from said lever isarranged so that its deflected point will register with slots 10, 11, 12and 13 in said plate for reasons hereinafter set forth.

Another finger 14 extending from the lever 5 on the underside of theplate 7 has a cable 15 secured to the end thereof in any desired manner.Said cable is fiexible and may have its deflected or bent portionsenclosed by a casing V16 for protection and also for the purpose ofstrengthening` its rigidity of align-` purposes for which it isintended. The cabl inet is provided with a front cover 20 and a sidedoor 21. hinged thereto at 22. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the covermembel 20 is removed for purposes of illustration. The remote end of'the cable 15 is secured to the lower end 23 of a connecting plate 24which is retained in slidable position by guide lugs 25. A link 26 ispivoted at 27 to an end of the connecting` 'plate and is provided withan adjustment slot 28. Said link is pivoted at 29 to a projection on acollar which is keyed to a sleeve 31 that is journailed on an aXle 32secured to the cabinet 17 and its front cover 20 as clearly shown inFig. 5 Vof the drawings. i w

The hub 33 of an arm 34 is key'ed or other- Wise fixed to the sleeve 31;'Said arm comprises two'metal parts `secured together by a bolt 35 and ahollow hand 36 rigdly secured to said arm at 37 is prefer'ably made oftranslucent white material andflprovided lwith'a colored spot 38,preferably red, that is painted or otherwise fixed on its forwardinterior portion." It will now be obvious that said hand may be swung bythe foregoing described connecting parts to the different pivotalpositions shown in Fig. 1. w

As a means for opening land closing the door 21 synchronously with themovementsV dotted lines.

the lower end portion is defiected at right angles as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 4 'of the drawings.

In the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 the pin 43 will be eXactlyat the junct-ion point between the slot 44 and its deflected portion 45and the door will bepin the open position. In this position the finger 9is in registration with the slot 11 and the hancl 36 is in horizontalposition indicating the signal rightturn. By moving said finger to slot12 said hand will be moved down to the slanting position indicatingLstop while at the same time said pin will move to the remote end of thedefiected slot portion and the door will Continue to remain open.

Now by moving the finger 9 to the slot 13 the hand 3G will assume itsfull retracted position within the cabinet 17 as shown in Simultaneouslythe upward movement of the plate 24 and its deflected slot portion 45will pivotally move the pin 43 and its bell Crank 41 to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. ri'fhus the bell Crank in its pivotalmovement about the point 42 will draw the link 89 inwardly and close thedoor.

It is believed that the reverse movement back to theposition shown infull lines in Figs 1 and 2 will be readily understood without adescription in detail. In the raised position shown in dotted lines inFig. 1 and indicating left turn the finger 9 is moved to the slot 10 andthe pin 48 slides freely in the slot 44 as the plate 24 moves downwardlyand therefore has no effect on the position of the door which willremain open.

My means for illuminating the hand 36 comprises a Contact plate 46insulatively secured to the Connecting plate 24 and arranged to engagebetween a pair of spring fingers 47 mounted within the cabinet 17. Awire 48 leads from said spring fingers to the source of current and awire 49 grounded on the metal cabinet leads from the contact plate to alamp 50 mounted within theV hand. VVhen the door 21 is Closed and thehand is in the retracted position said contact plate will be out ofengag'ement with saidspring` fing'ers as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2and in engagement with a stop member 51 and the light will be out aswill be understood.v

It will now be appar'ent that I 'have provided a semaphore that iscomparatively simple in'construction, that is compactly housed within acabinet, which embodies means for opening' and closing' the cabinet doorand displaying the signal hand in'all positions necessary for indicatingthe movements of the vehicle in which it is installed, and means forilluminating the signalhand simultaneously with its movements and themovements of the door.

Having thus described my invention, it beeing understood that minorchanges in con- Vto displayed position Comprising a hand lever, aflexible Cable forthe lever, a slidable connecting plate for the Cable,a link plate pivoted to the connecting plate, and anarm projecting fromthe inner pivoted end of the signal arm plate.

2. A motor-vehicle semaphore comprising a cabinet, a hinged door, Vasignal arm normally housed within the cabinet when the door is closed,means for swinging the arm to displayed position Comprisingl a handlever, a flexible Cable for the lever, a slidable Connecting plate forthe Cable, a link plate'pivoted to the connecting plate, an armprojectinfg;` from the inner pivoted end of the signal arm pivotallyconnected to the link plate, means for opening and closing the door syn-Chronously with the movements of the signal arm Comprising a link armpivoted to the door, a bell Crank pivoted to said link and to thecabinet, a pin for said bell Crank slidably disposed in a slot in theslidable Conpivotally connected to the link necting plate, and said slothaving' a right angular lower end portion wherein said pin receeds whenthe slidable connecting plateV is moved upwardly to retract the signalarm and Close the door. i I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RoLLA o. HA'RBORD.

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